READY, SET, GO…

Great news, the first volunteer session at the SWIFT Center is scheduled for May 11th.

Budgets, contracts and trail projects are firming up, so building is on the horizon. Pictured here Art Tuftee stands with the tools purchased by Skagit County Parks & Recreation, that are securely stored onsite by the Port of Skagit.

Funding volunteer sessions is next. Volunteers donate time, but hosting sessions is not cheap. There are a great many costs to cover…

Trained crew leaders arrive early and stay late. They get their instructions before the session, then haul out and place the hand tools where they will be needed. They help train and lead volunteers; ensuring attendees are safe, effective, and that they have a great volunteer experience. Afterwards tools must be picked up, cleaned, organized, sometimes sharpened – and put away.

Furthermore, volunteers deserve ‘great’ lunches, snacks, and to ‘earn’ volunteer tee shirts. Over several sessions, with a minimum of ten hours, a volunteer tee shirt is earned. They show our appreciation, while helping with recruitment.

To do all of this, a nonprofit umbrella organization (to accept donations) MUST be setup. The best volunteer groups are well-resourced. We know the community supports trails, and in the past made generous donations to help.